A young boy is raped and murdered in Central Park and the early evidence leads to a convicted sex offender who had recently been released from prison, but he is soon cleared after it becomes clear he is innocent of the crime. However, this does not stop the authorities from attempting to lock him up anyway.

Benson and Stabler investigate a female student's murder at a local college. When they develop a suspect on the basketball team, they experience resistance from the college, which is trying to preserve its reputation and its chance at an upcoming championship.